I emailed KD but didn’t get a response so here goes with a newbie dumb question. I notice on many HO rolling stock now that they advertise “scale couplers”. My question is rather these will work compatablely with standard couplers. I know KD #5 is standard and #58 is, I believe scale. Will they work with each other. Thanks
First Okie, there is no such thing as a stupid question. In fact this is the place to ask anything. Most Kadee couplers in HO scale are oversized by 50 to 100% depending on who you listen to on the subject. “Scale couplers” mean that they are a 1:87.1 scale model of the real couplers. If they are set at the proper height and have little or no vertical play, which is also the way you should set the Kadee’s or any brand of coupler, they should work fine together. One problem I’ve run into personally is the scale couplers are usually plastic, which is OK with a short train or no grades. I run at a club with a 5 loop helix at 2% grade. A 14 car passenger train will bend a plastic coupler causing them to uncouple. I’ve since converted them to Kadee 40 Series (metal) couplers and, problem solved.
The slightly oversized couplers, in my opinion, are not a problem because 1) the coupler is a small part in comparison to the size of the car/loco, and 2) if all your couplers are “oversized” it’s not noticable.
Okie,The KD #58 scale coupler is metal not plastic…[:D]
http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page351.htm
Also the MCHENRY scale coupler is plastic with a knuckle spring like KD uses.These couplers work good,however,in most cases KD’s #58 couple can be had for a $1.00 more for 20 pack vs.Mchenry’s scale coupler that comes in a pack of 22.
I use KD #5’s at the club and KD #58 and the Mchenry scale coupler on my home cars.
okiechoochoo,
I answer the Kadee e-mails and I have no e-mail from you in my files. When did you send your question? I do answer a lot of e-mails that have invalid return addresses or have a filter that will not allow my response to be received.
Our scale #58 coupler is designed to work with all of our other HO couplers. Sometimes they need a little more fine tuning to achieve the correct height, etc.
TomDiehl,
Our #5 size of couplers are only about 20% over scale not 50 to a 100%.
Our scale #58 and #78 couplers are all metal and are as strong as the #5 coupler.
Sam Clarke
Kadee Quality Products
Cool, that Kadee monitors this forum!!! Sam, standby, you’ve just been ID’d as a coupler expert!
My apologies, I have never measured them, this is only what I’ve heard. If I told these guys once I’ve told them a billion times, DON’T EXAGERATE.
As I’ve said, I’ve never found the difference objectionable, especially since I’ve never found another brand that is as reliable. I build my trains to operate.
Most of my rolling stock has Kadee #58s on it. The exceptions have McHenry “scale” couplers - one being Genesis equipment whch can be a bit of a pain to switch out and the others being Atlas corn syrup cars for which the McHenry bottom shelf coupler is the correct one, as opposed to the Kadee #118 double shelf coupler.
They all seem to play well together.
Sam
I emailed you last week, or at least I thought I sent it, but the wife was interrupting me a lot and perhaps I typed it but failed to hit the send button. Anyway, thanks a bunch for the response. It is very good to know the manufacturers are monitoring these forums and take the time to respond.
THANKS for dropping in Sam
Most all my stuff has Kadee #5’s, with the exception of a few pieces with offset couplers.
When my son was little, I used Mchenry and Intermountain stuff on his cars, simply because he was young, and I thought he’d be better off without knuckle springs. Now that he’s older, ( about to turn 14 ), I find my suppply of # 5’s getting depleted fairly regularly, as he replaces the other brands with Kadees.
Not long ago, I found out about the # 58’s. I ordered some for the store, and took a pack home with me to check out. I LIKE 'EM!!!
I guess my next order from Kadee will have a bunch of # 58’s on it, as all my new Kadee conversions will have # 58’s on them if possible!
Thanks again, Sam, and Kadee!
Rotor
Ok. I’m confused. What’s the difference between a #5 and a #58?
Kadee’s # 58 is the same centerset shank, and length as the # 5, but with the smaller, more scale appearing head. It really looks good! It is compatible with all other Kadee couplers, and the other knuckle couplers on the market.
It’s really nice! The only bad thing about it is, now I’m going to be replacing a lot of my # 5 equipped trains with # 58’s. Oh well, it’s only money and time! ( Niether of which I have a lot of! ) [:D]
Rotor
I never worried about scale couplers until I got my most recent locomotive. This is a model of an Alco export unit, a DL-500, which is a slightly scaled down FPA-4 with six axles. I had some European made models of this type which were BAD - short and too wide and too high. When I looked at the new pretty much scale model, I thought -“the couplers look too big”. For some reason, the problem never seemed important to me with US models, which are quite a bit bigger. I see Kadee 58s in my future.
Peter
Peter…let me know if ya want some…I have them in stock!
I’ll have the new bulk packages in a week or so!
Rotor
Do you have a store here in the ATL.
How do the non-Kadee’s work with delayed uncouping, the Kadee feature that allows you to uncouple cars at the head of a ladder and then spot them anywhere in the yard? Do they all do this, or only some?
I’ve been installing exclusively Kadees on my rolling stock I bought mostly in the 60’s, but when I’ve bought new equipment it comes with other brands.
Yep…just south of town actually. We are really just getting started stocking model train stuff. Until recently, we’ve been on an order as needed basis. But now we get more new stuff every week. [:)]
Rotor
Peter: you might look at the Kadee “Old Timer” couplers (I forget the ID) which ae the HOn3 couplers with a longer hose. They are noticeably smaller than the others, but work with them. There may be a mounting issue.
I started out with the horn-hook style couplers years ago…and eventually switched to Kadees. They work great! In fact, the only time I’ve had one fail…is when the locomotive (an older Athearn F7) derailed, and hit the floor! The impact snapped the coupler right off. I also have a few cars with McHenry couplers, but I don’t like them as well. I’ve had problems with the integral centering springs either getting bent or caught in the knuckle. As of yet, I haven’t tried the #58s, but several guys in the PCRRHS have and love 'em 
For years the buzz was when will Kadee have a scale sized coupler? I remember the buildup well and I remember my total disappointment at how small the difference really was. That is a left handed compliment to Kadee for producing a fine product all these years. There are only two companies on my model railroading pedastel. Kadee for their excellent couplers and fine products and Irv Athearn who is probably singularly responsible for the growth in HO and what we have today. Long live Kadee.